The North-Eastern club will once again Play their trade in the country's top League.

Aizawl FC will be one of the nine participants in the I-League 2016-17 season after the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Executive Committee decided to reinstate the North-Eastern club back to the top division.

It must be noted that the Reds from Mizoram got relegated from the I-League last season as they finished eighth in the table, a place above the relegation-immune DSK Shivajians.

I-League CEO Sunando Dhar briefed the committee about the I-League which kicks-off on 7 January, 2017. Keeping in mind the heart-warming performance of Aizawl FC in the last edition, the committee unanimously decided to give them a ticket to play in the 2016-17 edition.

Meanwhile, AIFF President Praful Patel confirmed that Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa will be part of the I-League next season and that Aizawl FC isn’t a replacement for Salgaocar FC, who opted out of the competition.

The Mizoram-based club's heroics against newly crowned I-League champions Bengaluru FC in the quarter final of the Federation Cup has spawned online petitions to have them back in the top flight.

Sunando Dhar later added, “We have now planned on 9 teams for the time being. But we will give advertisement for another team and if we get a team then it will be a 10-team contest otherwise I-League will be a 9-team affair.”

“Aizawl FC is not replacement for Salgaocar FC. I have been contacted by many parties to set-up teams in the I-League and we will also begin advertising to let people know that we are welcoming teams to the I-League,” said Patel.

Report by Khel Now Correspondent Rony. Sports passionate and content writer. He is big football and cricket fan.